ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has announced plans to enforce more rigorous deployment obligations on telecom infrastructure licensees, highlighting concerns over the slow progress toward the country’s digital connectivity goals.
Sources indicate that PTA has drafted a consultation document proposing a stringent new rollout framework. Under this plan, licensees holding Technology Infrastructure Provider (TIP) licenses would be required to establish at least one earth station or satellite hub within their first year of operation. Moreover, they would need to lay down a minimum of 60 kilometers of optical fiber each year.
Regarding tower and radio link infrastructure, the authority recommends a minimum of 10 new installations annually. A phased approach has also been suggested for submarine cable landing stations (CLS), involving a three-year rollout plan:
- Year 1: Obtain permit-in-principle for the CLS
- Year 2: Complete the establishment of the cable landing station and secure the necessary commencement certificate
- Year 3: Achieve full operational status of the submarine CLS
PTA has justified these tougher conditions, emphasizing that such measures are crucial to achieving national digital connectivity objectives. The existing TIP license permits holders to deploy earth stations, fiber optic networks, towers, and CLS infrastructure, but the regulator now seeks to tighten oversight.
The authority has invited industry stakeholders to review and comment on the proposed requirements.
Official data from PTA reveals the urgency behind these measures: only 25% of TIP licensees have demonstrated satisfactory progress. Out of 24 licensees, just 14 have laid fiber optic networks, with only six companies having installed over 300 kilometers of fiber. Alarmingly, five licensees have yet to initiate any infrastructure development.
PTA expressed serious concern over the insufficient activity among most licensees, warning that inactive entities are hindering Pakistan’s broader digital transformation efforts.
In related enforcement actions, the PTA Lahore Zonal Office, in coordination with the NCCIA Lahore, conducted successful raids targeting illegal SIM issuance activities. The operations took place in Shahkot (Nankana Sahib District), Haveli Lakha (Okara District), and Yazman (Bahawalpur District). During these raids, the joint team confiscated a significant number of suspicious SIM cards and equipment used for unauthorized biometric verification. All seized items have been retained by NCCIA as evidence.
